Palomino Blackwing Pearl pencil review

The Palomino Blackwing Pearl is the third and, currently, final Palomino Blackwing in the series. It’s harder and lighter than the Blackwing and softer and darker than the Blackwing 602. In other words, it’s in between. As such, if you are looking for a pencil to both write and sketch with, this may be a good choice. It doesn’t require so much sharpening that it’s a pain to write with but it also gives a reasonably dark line as it glides across the page.

The build and finish of the Pearl is of very high quality. The barrel lives up to its name and is a shimmery, dare I say pearlescent, white. It’s beautiful and will get noticed (and commented upon, which you may or may not like). The printing is sharp and tasteful.

It has the usual, for the Blackwing range, adjustable cuboidal eraser, which does a reasonable job of actually rubbing things out. It’s better than most end-of-pencil erasers but not as good as most independently appointed erasers.

The Palomino Blackwing Pearl is an excellent pencil. It’s comfortable to hold, it’s very well made, it looks fantastic and it performs admirably when writing and when sketching.